There’s only so much that even advanced skincare products can do if you’re not feeding your skin the right stuff from the inside. For those looking for ways to boost the skin-friendliness of your diet, then add walnuts (in moderation, of course). Here’s why:span>
Walnuts improve moisture-retention
Walnuts are excellent sources of essential Omega-3 fatty acids. They’re called “essential” because your body can’t produce them on its own. These fatty acids are vital to the integrity of skin cell membranes, which are, in turn, vital to retaining cell hydration. These fatty acids can also help skin cells attract moisture from the air (i.e. act as a humectant).
Walnuts slow aging
Walnuts have high concentrations of B and E vitamins, both of which are potent antioxidants. Antioxidants, as you may know, are free radical fighters—they neutralize free-roaming electrons that compromise the integrity of healthy skin cells and skin-firming structures, like collagen and elastin. Fewer free radicals prevent the degradation of your skin’s resilience and texture for fewer lines, wrinkles and sags.
Walnuts help stabilize hormones
Walnuts help regulate your blood glucose level, which is a key factor in maintaining overall endocrine balance. Hormones—and how they affect your skin and overall health are complicated—but the visible results are easy enough to understand.
Among the many benefits of stable blood glucose levels and endocrine balance are:
- Reduced food cravings and binges
- Ease of losing weight and or maintaining a healthy weight
- Reduced inflammation
- Clearer skin
By facilitating endocrine stabilization, walnuts can also assist stress management on a biochemical level. So, the benefits include mood boost and emotional well-being, too.
How to Get More Walnuts into Your Diet
Walnuts are easy to incorporate into your diet because you can eat them by themselves…and they taste good. But walnuts are fun and easy to use in recipes, too. For instance, you can:
- Toss them in salads
- Use them (crushed) to coat chicken or fish
- Substitute them for pine nuts in pestos
As with anything, too much of a good thing isn’t so good. Like all nuts, walnuts do pack a sizeable calorie-punch, so snack in moderation.
